Thursday's Top Lots: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints, Ephemera

Thursday's sale of Maps, Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints and Ephemera went wonderfully, with successful sales of several very important maps, illustrated books, and prints.

David Roberts, The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia, 2 titles in 6 volumes, London, 1842-49.

The top lot of the auction was David Roberts' beautiful illustrated book The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia. Published in London between 1842 and 1849, it brought a strong $33,600.

Fry-Jefferson, A Map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland, London, 1775.

Among the maps, A Map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole Province of Maryland took the top spot, selling for $28,800.

Groups lots of maps also did very well in this sale. In particular, a group of over 22 maps concerning the growth of California during the 1920s and 1930s went for $16,800 - the result of two very interested parties, who drove the price well above the estimate of $400 - $600.

John James Audubon, Barnacle Goose, London: Havell, 1836.

Decorative graphics and Natural History prints also sold well. John James Audubon's Barnacle Goose, Plate CCXCVI from his mammoth portfolio Birds of America, a historical benchmark of ornithological illustrations, sold for $5,040.